Ratchet mechanism for wrenches, screw drivers, and the like



Feb. 19, 1952 v, BROWNING AL 2,586,296

RATCHET MECHANISM FOR WRENCHES, SCREW DRIVERS, AND THE LIKE I 7 2 SHEETSSHEET 1 Filed Sept. 9 1949 s M9 M w 5 mma V a a W. Qw u a 2 m a a 1 c my W 8 .B W 6 Armewers Patented Feb. 19, 1952 RATCHET MECHANISM FOR WRENCHES, SCREW DRIVERS, AND THE LIKE Roe V. Browning and Cecil F. Badgley,

Bozeman,

Mont; said Badgley assignor of twenty-five per cent to Ottley R. Tschache and twenty-five per cent to J. W. Tschache, both of Bozeman,

Mont.

Application September 9, 1949, Serial N 0. 114,850

7 Claims. 1

Our invention relates to ratchet mechanism for wrenches, screw drivers and the like.

A primary object of our invention is to provide mechanism of the above mentioned type which is smooth operating, withbut the usual clicking noise, and extremely simple, compact and sturdy in construction.

A further object is to provide ratchet mechanism which is positive in its gripping action upon the tool to be turned, and which will release the tool without eifort, regardless of the force previously applied for turning a screw or the like.

' A further object is to provide mechanism of the above mentioned type which is free from levers, pins, wheels and the like, usually needed to control the ratchet reverse.

A still further object of our invention is to provide ratchet mechanism adjustable to right and left hand turning positions and to a position where the mechanism is positively locked to the tool for turning therewith.

Other objects and advantages of our invention will be apparent during the course of the following description:

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is a central vertical longitudinal section through ratchet mechanism embodying our .invention, part broken away,

Figure 2 is a similar section illustrating a modification of the invention,

taken on line 5-5 Figure is a similar section taken on line Iii-l0 of Figure '7,

Figure 11 is a similar section taken on line of Figure 8,

Figure 12 is a similar |2|2 of Figure 7,

Figure 13 is a similar section taken on line section -taken on line -l3- l3 of Figure 7, and,

Figure 14 is an end elevation of the mechanism shown in Figure 7.

In the drawings, where for the purpose of illustration are shown preferred embodiments of our invention, attention is directed first to Figures 1 and 3 to 6 inclusive, wherein the numeral 28 designates an elongated straight cylindrical rod or bar, which may be flattened and beveled at one end to form a screw driver blade 2| and which may have a squared extension or end 22. Mounted upon rod 20 near and inwardly of the squared extension 22 is a straight intermediate cylindrical sleeve 23 having a bore 24, somewhat larger than the diameter of the rod 20 and slidably receiving the rod therein. The rod 28 extends for a substantial distance beyond the end of the sleeve 23 remote from the extension 22. Near the longitudinal center of the intermediate sleeve 23, it is provided in its side with a transverse slot 25, adjacent to and communicating with a diametrical groove or notch 26 formed in the rod 20 and extending transversely therethrough and having a fiat bottom 21, passing through the center of the rod as shown. Mounted within the slot 25 and notch 26 is a substantially semi-circular plate or Woodrufi key 28, which serves to connect the rod 20 and sleeve 23 and to prevent relative longitudinal movement of these elements. The bottom 29 of the slot 25 engages the straight bottom edge 38 of the Woodruff key 28 to maintain it spaced slightlyfrom the bottom 21 of the notch 26, and the key 28 is shiftable horizontally within the slot 25 and notch 26.

An outer thin cylindrical tubular sleeve or handle 3| is provided, and freeable rotatably mounted upon the intermediate sleeve 23. The open end 32 of the handle 3| terminates near and inwardly of a bevel or chamfer 33 formed upon the adjacent end of the sleeve 23, and the outer closed end 34 of the handle is spaced longitudinally outwardly of the opposite fiat end 35 of the sleeve 23. Near and inwardly of the end 35, the sleeve 23 has an annular groove 36 formed in its periphery, and a pin or screw 31, fixedly secured to the handle 3| projects into the groove 36 for slidably connecting the handle with the sleeve 23 and for preventing relative axial movement of these elements.

Near and inwardly of the end 32, the intermediate sleeve 23 has a small radial opening 38, a radially inwardly spring pressed ball or detent 89, which engages either of two fiat faces 48 and 4 I, formed upon the rod 20, adjacent to the opening 38 and arranged at an acute angle and converging radially, Figure 3. The flat faces 40 and M constitute a pointed cam, Figure 3, for tripping engagement over the spring pressed ball 39 to position the rod in either of two adjusted positions withrespect to the intermediate sleeve 2- The outer circularly curved face 42 of the Woodruif key 28 is adapted to contact and to be wedged against the inner face or bore 43 of the handle 3!.

We provide means to positively lock the handle- 3| to the rod 2!] so that they may be rotated upon their longitudinal axes as a unit. Such means comprises a narrow rectangular longitudinal rod or plate 54, longitudinally slidably mounted in an internal groove formed in the bore 24 of the sleeve 23 and extending longitudinally throughout the entire length of the sleeve 23. The rod M extends longitudinally beyond both ends of the sleeve 23 for short distances and beyond the end 35 it is rigidly secured to a star-shaped or toothed plate 46 having a square opening or bore 4! slidably receiving the squared extension 22. The closed end 3 1 of the handle 3| has a star-shaped or toothed recess 48, for slidably receiving therein the toothed plate 56. The remote end 59 of the rod 34 serves as a handle for shifting the rod longitudinally in either direction. Near and opposite the opening 33, the intermediate sleeve 23 has a small radial opening 56, housing a radially inwardly biased spring pressed ball 5| which engages small longitudinally spaced projections 52 formed upon the outer face of the rod 44 and shiftable longitudinally within a deeper end portion 53 of the longitudinal groove 45.

In operation, the rod 20 may be conveniently positively locked to the handle 3| by shifting the rod 44 longitudinally inwardly, to engage the toothed plate 46 in the tooth recess 48. When the rod 44 is shifted outwardly to its position of Figure 1, relative rotation between the rod 20 and handle 3% is possible.

With the spring pressed ball 39 engaging one of the flat faces 40, Figure 3, the force of the spring behind the ball will cause the rod 20 to be turned slightly upon its longitudinal axis, and

one edge of the bottom 21 of notch 23 will engage the bottom 30 of the Woodrufi key 28 and force the key radially outwardly into tight wedging and clamping engagement with the bore 43 of the handle 3!. This in turn forces the intermediate sleeve 23 tightly against the bore 43 of the handle. When the handle 3| is now turned in one direction the Woodruif key will be more tightly wedged or bound, and the entire mechanism including the handle, intermediate sleeve 23, and

' rod 20 will rotate as a unit. When the handle 3| is rotated in the opposite direction, it will freely slip over the Woodruff key and sleeve 23 toproduce the ratchet action. This ratchet action will be completely smooth and noiseless, and the reversal can be accomplished with ease, regardless of how much force has been exerted for turning up a screw or the like. The noisy clicking of most ratchet tools is absent. To reverse the directionof the ratchet mechanism, the thumb is held against the chamfer 33, which may be knurled, while the rod 20 is turned slightly until the ball 39 engages the opposite fiat face M. This. will raise or force radially outwardly the opposite end of the Woodruff key 28, since it will be contacted by the opposite edge of the'bottom 2?. If the handle 31 is now turned in a direction opposite to that previously described, all of the elements will rotate as a unit, and the same ratchet motion will be produced, only in the opposite direction.

Attention is directed next to Figures. 2 and 12, wherein a modified form of the invention is illustrated, and wherein the numeral 54 designates a rod, similar to the rod 20 and having one end squared as shown as 55 for connection with the socket of a wrench or the like. This end may of course be flattened to produce a screw driver blade like the blade 2|, if desired. The rod 54 has angularly arranged fiat faces 56 which are identical with the flat faces 40 and 4!, and the rod is connected with an intermediate cylindrical sleeve 57 by a Woodrufi key 58, in the same manner that the sleeve 23 and rod 20 are connected by the key 28. The intermediate sleeve 51 has a bore 59 terminating inwardly of a closed end 60, and this bore receives in its bottom a ball bearing 6| which engages the inner flat end 52 of the rod 54 to reduce friction between the rod and the intermediate sleeve 5'1. The sleeve 51 has its opposite end chamfered, as at 63 in the identical manner in which the sleeve 23 is chamfered at 33. A handle 64, corresponding to the handle 3! is freely rotatably mounted upon the sleeve 51 and carries a pin or a screw 65 which engages within an annular groove 66 formed in the side of the sleeve 61. This arrangement is identical to the corresponding arrangement shown and described in connection with the first form of the invention.

The handle 64 has a closed end 61, having a plurality of circumferentially spaced recesses 68 formed in its inner face, adjacent to the end 60. A longitudinally shiftable locking rod 69 is slidably mounted within a longitudinal bore I3 extending entirely through the sleeve 51, radially outwardly of the bore 59. The rod 69 has a handle extension H and is adapted to be reciprocated for engagement within the openings or recesses 68, and for disengagement from these recesses. Near and inwardly of the chamfer 63, the sleeve 51 has a surrounding eccentric groove 12, receiving a C-shaped spring 13 which is biased close for tight clamping engagement within longitudinally spaced notches 14 formed in and spaced longitudinally of the rod 69. One end 15 of the spring 13 is anchored within a small radial recess 16 formed in the bottom of the eccentric groove 12, Figure 12. The action of the spring 13 is such that the rod 69 may be shifted longitudinally into and out of any one of the openings 68 and the spring will engage alternately within the inner and outer notches when the rod is so shifted. The rod 69 thus serves to positively lock the handle 64 and intermediate sleeve 51 together for rotation as a unit, and to release these parts for free relative rotation.

Formed in the outer end of the sleeve 51, adjacent to its chamfer 63 and arranged radially between the bore 59 and chamfer is a longitudinal opening or bore 9|, within which is mounted for reciprocation an outwardly biased spring pressed cylindrical plunger or pin 92, having formed in its side a shallow recess 11, leading into a deeper recess or ball seat 18. The sleeve 51 has a radial bore oropening 19 formed in its side adjacent to the flat faces 56, and intersecting the bore 9|. A ball detent 8D is mounted withinthe bore 13 upon the inner side of the plunger 92 and between this plungerand the rod 54. This ball detent is'norrnally seated within the shallow groove or recess",

may move radially outwardly into the deeper seat 18 so that it may pass from one fiat face 56 to the opposite fiat face 56 in a similar man-'- ner to the manner in which the ball 39 passes from the flat face 40 to the flat face 41. v

In view of the description, it is believed that the use and operation of the form of the invention illustrated by Figures 2 and 12 should be obvious, in the light of the description of'the use and operation of the first form of the'i'nvention. Attention is directed next to Figures '7, 9, 10, 12 and 13, wherein a further modification of the invention is illustrated, and wherein the numeral 8| designates a rod which may be substantially identical to the rod54 except that a recess or notch 82 is provided which is substantially longer than the recess 21. An intermediate sleeve 83 is mounted within a handle 84 and upon the rod 8|, and this sleeve and handle are identical with the sleeve 51 and handle 64 in all respects, except that the sleeve 83 is ,provided in its side with a long radial opening or passage 84, for registration with the recess 82. Instead of the Wo odruif key 58, a cylindrical roller or key 85 is introduced into the opening 84 and engages within the recesses 82, Fig- 'ures 7 and 10. The roller 85 is shiftable radially within the opening 84, and there is some radial clearance between the bore of the handle 84 All other and the bottom of the recess 82. elements and their operation are identical with those shown and described in the first and second forms of the invention, and an additional detailed description is thought to be unnecessary.

The roller 85 serves the same purpose as the Woodruif keys 28 and 58, and will function satisfactorily to produce the ratchet action in either direction, depending upon which fiat face 40 or 4| the ball detent 39 is engaging.

Attention is directed next to Figures 8 and 11, l

wherein a still further modification of our inventionis illustrated. In these figures, the numeral 8B designates a rod which may be identical with the rod 54. The numerals B1 and 88 designate an intermediate sleeve and handle respectively, identical in all respects with the corresponding parts shown and described in connection with-theother forms-of the invention, except that the sleeve 81 has formed in its side adjacent to the recess 21 a relatively short radial we opening or passage 89 for receiving a steel ball 90, disposed therein and within the recess 21, between the bottom thereof and the bore of the handle 88. This ball 90 will function in a manner similar to the functioning of the roller 85 and Woodruif keys 28 and 58, and it has been found that any of these elements is satisfactory to produce the previously described ratchet action in either direction. In view of the foregoing descriptions, it is thought that a further detailed description is unnecessary, and that the use and operation of the mechanism in Figures 8 and 11 is obvious.

It is to be understood that the forms of our invention. herewith shown and described are to be taken as preferred examples of the same, and that various changes in shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of our invention, or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is:

1. Ratchet mechanism, comprising a rod provided in its side with a recess and having opposed converging fiat faces, an intermediate sleeve 16 mounted upon the rod for limited rotation and having a first side opening adjacent to said recess and a second side opening adjacent to said fiat faces, a ball mounted within said second side opening for engagement alternately with the flat faces, means carried by the intermediate sleeve and engaging the ball for releasably holding the ball in contact with either of said fiat faces, an outer handle sleeve rotatably mounted upon the intermediate sleeve, a key element mounted within the recess of the rod and first side opening of the intermediate sleeve and adapted to shift radially into engagement with the side of the outer handle sleeve when the rod is turned, the key element holding the rod and intermediate "sleeve against relative longitudinal movement,

outer handle sleeve.

2. Ratchet mechanism, comprising a rod provided in its side with a recess and having opposed converging flat faces, an intermediate sleeve mounted upon the rod for limited rotation and having a first side opening adjacent to the recess and a second side opening adjacent to the flat faces, a ball mounted within the second side opening for engagement alternately with the flat faces, means carried by the intermediate sleeve and engaging the ball to releasably hold it in contact with either of the flat faces, an outer handle sleeve rotatably mounted upon the intermediate sleeve, a key element mounted within the recess of the rod and first side opening of the intermediate sleeve and adapted to shift radially into engagement with the outer handle sleeve when the rod is turned, the key element holding the rod and intermediate sleeve against relative longitudinal movement, means connecting the intermediate-sleeve and outer handle sleeve and preventing their relative longitudinal movement, 2.

= longitudially shiftable locking rod carried by the intermediate sleeve for locking engagement with the outer handle sleeve, andspring means mounted upon the intermediate sleeve and engaging the locking rod to releasably position it in looking and unlocking positions relative to the outer handle sleeve.

3. Ratchet mechanism, comprising a rod provided in its side with a recess and having a flat face, an intermediate sleeve slidably mounted upon the rod and having a side opening adjacent to said recess and a second side opening adjacent to the fiat face, a spring pressed ball mounted within the second side opening and engaging the flat face, an outer sleeve rotatably mounted upon the intermediate sleeve, a Woodruif key mounted within the recess of the rod and first named side opening and engaging the inner surface of the outer sleeve, the keypreventing relative longitudinal movement between the rod andintermediate sleeve, means to prevent relative longitudinal movement of the intermediate sleeve and outer sleeve, and a longitudinally shiftable looking rod carried by the intermediate sleeve and shiftable into and out of locking engagement with the outer sleeve.

4. Ratchet mechanism, comprising a rod provided in its side with a recess and having a fiat face, an intermediate sleeve slidably mounted upon the rod and having a side opening adjacent to said recess and a second side opening adjacent sleeve, one end 7 to the flat face, a spring pressed ball mounted within the second side opening and engaging the fiat face, an outer sleeve rotatablymountedupon the intermediate sleeve, a ed within the recess of the rod and first named side opening and engaging the inner face of the outer sleeve, the key preventing relative longitudinal movement of the rod and intermediate sleeve, the intermediate sleevehaving an external annular groove, an inwardly projecting element secured to the outer sleeve and engaging within the groove to prevent relative longitudinal movement of the intermediate sleeve and outer of the outer sleeve being spaced longitudinally from one end of the intermediate sleeve and having a toothed recess, a toothed plate slidably mounted upon the rod between said ends of the outer and intermediate sleeves, a

longitudinally shiftable the intermediate sleeve and secured to the tooth plate for shifting the same into and out of the toothed recess, and spring means for releasably holding the looking rod in looking and unlocking locking rod carried by positions.

5. Ratchet mechanism, comprising a rod provided in its side with a recess and havinga flat .ment between the rod and intermediate sleeve,

and a longitudinally shiftable locking rod carried by the intermediate sleeve and shiftable into and out of locking engagement with the outer sleeve and serving to prevent relative rotation between the intermediate sleeve and outer sleeve.

6. Ratchet mechanism, comprising a rod provided in its side with a recess and having a flat face, an intermediate sleeve mounted upon the rod and having a side opening adjacent to the to the intermediate we n recess and a second side openingadjacent to the fiat face, a spring pressed ball mounted within the second side opening and engaging the fiat face, an outer sleeve rotatably mounted upon the intermediate sleeve andheld against longitudinal movement withrespect to the intermediate sleeve, a ball mounted within the recess of the rod and first named side opening and engaging the inner face of the outer sleeve, the ball preventing relative longitudinal movement between the rod and intermediate sleeve, and a longitudinally shift: ing lockingrod carried by the intermediate sleeve and movable into and out of locking engagement with the outer sleeve to prevent relative rotation between the outer and intermediate sleeves.

7. Ratchet mechanism comprising a rod provided in its side with a recess and having opposed converging fiat faces, an intermediate sleeve mounted upon the rod for limited rotation and having a first side openin adjacent to said recess and a second side opening adjacent to said flat faces, a means mounted within said second side opening and engageable alternately with the fiat faces, spring means operatively connected to said means for urging the latter into contact with either of said flat faces, an outer handle sleeve rotatably mounted upon the intermediate sleeve, a key element mounted within the recess'of the rod and first side opening of the intermediate sleeve and adapted to shift radially into engagement with the side of the outer handle sleeve when the rod is turned, the key element holding the rod and intermediate sleeve against relative longitudinal movement, and means connecting the intermediate sleeve and outer handle sleeve and preventing relative longitudinal movement thereof.

ROE V. BROWNING. CECIL F. BADGLEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

